One of the most exciting neo-Victorian steampunk releases this year from award winning short fiction author Nisi Shawl. An alternate history where African natives developed steam power ahead of their colonial oppressors

The latest entry into Mile's Cameron's awesome military fantasy series that's ringing many of the same bells as does Erickson's Malazan Book of the Fallen series. One of my favorite fantasy series right now and a MUST read. I can't wait for this book

The next book in Brent Week's fabulous Lightbringer series -- a series with one of the more interesting magic systems and compelling world building. Love the series, even if the last book was a bit on the disappointing side.

No one can write like Ambercrombie. Actually, Luke Scull can, who has with his Grim Company books proven himself to be at the forefront of the Grim Dark fantasy movement. Right now, I rate Scull's books as better than Abercrombie's newer books right now. This is my most anticipated fantasy book this year and I LOVED the previous 2 books.

Review: Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson

Steelheart is Brandon Sanderson’s newest book. Once again, it’s a good one. It’s different from what we’re used to though. Steelheart is a YA (young adult) book, built around the superhero concept.

– If power corrupts, does absolute power corrupt absolutely? That’s the question Brandon Sanderson asks of you and me.

Steelheart takes place in a world where “Calamity”, a cosmic event, hits one day. Normal people develop superpowers, and these people become Epics. Only, in this world, the Epics do not become heroes, as we have always been told and believed in other stories. Instead they turn into super villains. Every. Last. Epic.

The worst of all the Epics is Steelheart. After Calamity, Steelheart takes control of Chicago, renaming the city Newcago and ruling as its dictator. 10 years later, the people of Newcago are living in oppression, the American government is non-existent, and the Epics are Gods among men.

Only one group dares to strike back at the Epics. The Reckoners consist of normal people with only one mission. To kill Epics. To kill beings so many orders of magnitude greater than a normal human, they need a plan, masterful coordination, and people willing to die for the cause.

“I’ve seen Steelheart bleed…” – David in Steelheart

The story itself is action-packed from page one and never slows down. And it’s way too short. I wanted a lot more. Just like I did with Rithmatist, Legion, Way of Kings and any other Sanderson book.

The basic premise of the story is a young boy, but he has no special powers what so ever. His drive is a burning hatred for Epics in general and Steelheart specifically. The story is solid, as you would expect from any Sanderson book. But I found it to be lacking something. Maybe I’ve been spoiled by Brandon Sanderson for too long, but something about the book felt off.

Brandon Sanderson paints both a bleak but also an uplifting picture of the way human beings are ruled by their innate instincts. On one hand, power corrupts and people are evil. On the other hand, he tells the basic rebel story of outgunned, outnumbered regular Joes taking the fight to the frontlines, to overthrow the evil regime.

Steelheart is probably the easiest Sanderson book to market for a TV audience, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see it on the big screen in the near future. It has serious potential as a movie or tv-series.

Though I joked about it earlier, I do feel the length of the book was a drawback. There were not enough pages to fully immerse myself into the story, the characters and the world. I wanted more exploration and more details. On the plus side, it’s an awesome book and Brandonesque all the way though. A cool magic system, compelling characters and a potentially amazing story.

Sanderson is the Stan Lee of fantasy and I’m eagerly awaiting the second book Firefighter, along with all the other goodies Brandon provides!

Highly recommended book. If you like Sandersons other works, X-men or just a really good book, you should check it out!

Sharakhai, the great city of the desert, center of commerce and culture, has been ruled from time immemorial by twelve kings -- cruel, ruthless, powerful, and immortal. With their army of Silver Spears, their elite company of Blade Maidens and their holy defenders, the terrifying asirim, the Kings uphold their positions as undisputed, invincible lords of the desert. There is no hope of freedom for any under their rule.

Or so it seems, until Çeda, a brave young woman from the west end slums, defies the Kings' laws by going outside on the holy night of Beht Zha'ir. What she learns that night sets her on a path that winds through both the terrible truths of the Kings' mysterious history and the hidden riddles of her own heritage. Together, these secrets could finally break the iron grip of the Kings' power...if the nigh-omnipotent Kings don't find her first.

About the author

Ben

Blog editor, admin and founder of BestFantasyBooks.comYou'll find me on the BestFantasyBook forums and spending my spare time reading fantasy books and writing lists for this site. In fact, I have no spare time -- running this site IS my spare time!